2023 Advocacy Award Winners - LegCon

In This Section

Announcing the Recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Advocacy Awards

National PTA is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 Outstanding Advocacy Awards!

The annual awards honor state, local and individual PTA advocates for taking action to improve the education, health, safety and well-being of every child.

Advocacy Award

Outstanding State PTA Advocacy Award

Oklahoma PTA

Oklahoma PTA’s 2022 legislative agenda had a strong focus on mental health, community gun safety and violence prevention. During their annual convention, held one week after the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Oklahoma PTA passed an emergency resolution on Gun Safety and Violence Prevention, which allowed for collaboration with BeSMART, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety, to coordinate parent education workshops around secure gun storage. After reading their resolution on gun safety and violence prevention, state legislators contacted Oklahoma PTA to participate in an interim study on school safety, which received more than 1,000 responses from local parents. This data was then used by the Oklahoma State Department of Education Safety and Security Office as part of a $11 million grant for Oklahoma schools to use for safety, security and mental health.

About the Award

The Outstanding State PTA Advocacy of the Year Award is awarded annually to one State PTA that through their dedication, leadership & efforts positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy aligned with National PTA’s public policy agenda.

Outstanding Local PTA Advocacy Award

Montclair PTA Council (New Jersey)

Montclair PTA Council advocated and led a campaign for the very first bond referendum of $188 million to be put forth by Montclair’s first elected Board of Education in the 2021-2022 school year. Montclair PTA Council’s work focused on organizing information related to the bond referendum to increase access to information for every voter. This was followed by community engagement efforts in which Montclair PTA Council launched a video series with the State Commissioner’s Office to highlight the community investment plan, hosted a community conversation forum led by parent representatives, developed communication materials that were shared with local businesses and news outlets and organized more than 100 volunteers to spread the word and encourage a yes vote on the bond referendum. This historic investment for Montclair Public Schools was approved in November 2022, thanks to the passion and advocacy efforts of the Montclair PTA Council.

About the Award

The Outstanding Local PTA Advocacy of the Year Award is awarded annually to one local, district, council or regional PTA that through their dedication, leadership & efforts positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy aligned with National PTA’s public policy agenda.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocacy Award

Old Bridge Special Education PTA (New Jersey)

Old Bridge Special Education PTA has grown from a small group to a well-respected, resourceful, knowledgeable and action-driven group that produces results that make a difference for all. In 2022, Old Bridge Special Education PTA hosted a Walk, Run, Roll to raise funds in an effort to update the communication boards in every park in Old Bridge (a 42-mile town). This was a community-wide effort—Eagle Scouts partnered with local landscapers and pavers to update landscaping at each park to allow for greater accessibility, a woodworking class from the local high school donated wood and built stands to hold the communication boards and the town mayor and district administrators joined to witness the first installation of upgrades.

About the Award

The Outstanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion PTA Advocate of the Year Award is awarded annually to one local, district, council or regional PTA that through their dedication, leadership and efforts positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy aligned with National PTA’s DEI Priorities.

Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award

Lorraine Gittens-Bridges (Queens Community PTSA, New York)

Lorraine Gittens-Bridges serves as president of Queens Community PTSA in New York. Throughout her term, Gittens-Bridges has committed to leading meaningful change by inspiring parent leaders and community members to believe that together they have an opportunity to make a fundamental difference for every child in the country. Gittens-Bridges co-developed the New York State PTA Citywide Leadership Team (CLT), which was established to ensure that parents’ voices are represented in all education decision-making at the state level. Gittens-Bridges’ advocacy and leadership on the New York State PTA CLT inspired state senators, city council and assembly members to introduce New York Senate Bill S2780, which intends to establish a citywide leadership team to ensure statewide education policies are conducive to promoting student achievement, enhancing the overall quality of education for students and including parents at all stages of the decision-making process.

About the Award

The Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award is awarded annually to one individual who most exemplifies the qualities that made one of PTA’s greatest child advocate leaders, former National PTA President Shirley Igo, a true advocate for all children. Shirley was a model of public service and volunteerism throughout her life. She was an impassioned and compassionate leader, dedicated to moving PTA forward and committed to ensuring that others would follow.

Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year Award

Aspen Brinkerhoff (Spanish Fork High School PTSA, Utah)

Aspen Brinkerhoff has been a force for good in her school ever since her involvement with the Utah PTA Student Leadership Committee beginning in 2018. Brinkerhoff is always finding new ways to give service to those around her, and in 2022, she led the opening of a school-wide food pantry that serves hungry students at Spanish Fork High School. Brinkerhoff has collaborated with community leaders and local businesses including the Utah Food Bank and local grocery stores to support and sustain the pantry for years to come. Brinkerhoff’s leadership around opening the food pantry inspired her classmates to prepare grab-and-go food kits to sustain students over weekends and longer vacation breaks, in addition to creating snack kits to help when lunch or dinner isn't available.

About the Award

The Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year Award is awarded annually to a young person (defined as someone under 18, or still in high school at the time of nomination) who exemplifies the qualities of creativity, leadership, and dedication, and has positively affected policy or change in his or her school or community in a way that aligns with PTA’s mission and goals. The youth individual(s) must be a member of a PTA or PTSA.

PTA Congressional Voice for Children Award

National PTA is pleased to honor Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) with its 2023 Congressional Voice for Children Award. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing issues impacting children and youth.

The PTA Congressional Voice for Children Award is given to two Members of Congress each year (bicameral, bipartisan) in recognition of outstanding leadership related to child and education advocacy. Congressional award winners are nominated and selected by the National PTA Legislation Committee and National PTA President.

Previous Advocacy Award Winners

2022 Advocacy Awards Winners

2021 Advocacy Awards Winners

2020 Advocacy Awards Winners

2019 Advocacy Awards Winners

2018 Advocacy Awards Winners

2017 Advocacy Awards Winners

2016 Advocacy Awards Winners

2015 Advocacy Awards Winners